OK Some of you may have read the thread I started 4 weeks ago whereas I was concerned about my blood test coming back with my liver #'s elevated and I was anemic... I have NEVER been anemic in my life whereas my wife has ALWAYS been anemic...something about it being a trait in her family... I dont know.
Anyway I do a retest last week and I go in yesterday to see the doctor for my results.
My liver #'s are still elevated. I have to lose weight.... OK working on it as of 2 weeks ago so...cool
Anemic levels are NORMAL... I say GREAT. Dr says "Well, yes but how could it have come down that fast?" I told him I changed my diet and started taking vitamins"... He told me that could help but not that fast...NO WAY it came down that fast. something is not right.
So when I came home I am thinking lab fucked up one of the tests right?? As I am talking to my wife, she tells me that HER blood test came back NORMAL when they tested for anemia...she has NEVER been normal and NOW she is 7 months pregnant so it SHOULD be high.
Whe my bride and I were tested, we got tested at the same lab, same nurse, I was first, my wife went second...
...ANY OF YOU THINKING THE SAME THING I AM??
Someone switched vials or tagged the wrong ones.

Originally Posted By USPC40:
Sounds like it's time for a second opinion.

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Sounds like it's time for a new HMO!!!
If I can prove it, this will be TWICE they made a major f*ck up. First time they sent my child home with a clean bill of health when she was born. Her heart is BACKWARDS and on the WRONG SIDE OF HER CHEST not to mention 4 other defects.
And the gun owners are the ones that are dangerous????

Alot of times if the blood sample isn't kept properly refrigerated or isn't properly centrifuged, the billirubin tests will be skewed and thus invalid. My advice to you is that you go back to the doctor and insist that he perform a Papanicolaou test. Don't take no for an answer.

Seriously : my HMO doc misread two sets of blood work I had done. I was having increasing problems with my energy levels, eventually led to heavy coughing and problems walking modest distances - and was getting worse. Went to her for 6 weeks, two sets of blood work that showed my as anemic (she wondered if I was a vegetarian) and was about to send me to a blood specialist.
Instead I went to the emergency room where they took X-Rays of my chest, and saw I had advanced pneumonia. They had to operate to clear my lungs of the congestion.
Second opinions are always a good idea - hope you get it worked out!

Quote: "Sounds like it's time for a new HMO!!!
If I can prove it, this will be TWICE they made a major f*ck up. First time they sent my child home with a clean bill of health when she was born. Her heart is BACKWARDS and on the WRONG SIDE OF HER CHEST not to mention 4 other defects.
And the gun owners are the ones that are dangerous????[/quote]"
Damn man, sorry to hear this. Sounds....well pretty bad for lack of adjectives.
Go get a re-test at a different lab, and get a second opinion. My liver functions have fluctuated for years. Doctors do not worry about it but I DO.
And congrats on the pregnancy!!!

Oh if that pnuemonia post gets you pissed, check this out:
Buddy of mine goes in for a blood test in [b]AUGUST[/b] and so he hears no answer for a week. So, he calls and they say results arent in. Two weeks pass and STILL they arent in. He forgets about it.
They call him the [b]WEDNESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!!![/b]
"Mr. XXXXXXXX, You need to get in here as quick as possible, your blood tests show you may have leukemia. We will be closed though until Monday"
have a great holiday weekend!!
Turns out this poor guy did NOT have leukemia but a rare blood disorder that gets treated every few weeks.
I guess medicine is not perfect. Thats why they call it a 'practice'

I'd have the tests RE-DONE. No charge to you.
2nd opinion is a good idea.
If there was a mistake...change Docs!
I know this sounds dumb, but were your kid's X-RAYS put up on the light board FACING THE RIGHT DIRECTION? Hadda ask!

Originally Posted By DrFrige:
Oh if that pnuemonia post gets you pissed, check this out:
Buddy of mine goes in for a blood test in [b]AUGUST[/b] and so he hears no answer for a week. So, he calls and they say results arent in. Two weeks pass and STILL they arent in. He forgets about it.
They call him the [b]WEDNESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!!![/b]
"Mr. XXXXXXXX, You need to get in here as quick as possible, your blood tests show you may have leukemia. We will be closed though until Monday"
have a great holiday weekend!!
Turns out this poor guy did NOT have leukemia but a rare blood disorder that gets treated every few weeks.
I guess medicine is not perfect. Thats why they call it a 'practice'

Originally Posted By BusMaster007:
I know this sounds dumb, but were your kid's X-RAYS put up on the light board FACING THE RIGHT DIRECTION? Hadda ask!

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Funny you say that. If you take her X Rays and turn them backwards, you are looking at a normal person but... There were no X rays taken.
However every doctor that listens to her chest, BEFORE we tell them what is the deal says the same thing... "I dont know if that is a heartbeat or her breathing"
Normal heartbeat: THUD THUD THUD THUD
Her Heartbeat: SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH

Sounds like that bit in a Cheech and Chong movie. You know, when Cheech picks up Chong, and Chong has a urine sample for his probation officer....but it's a sample from his pregnant sister "So I can really fuck with his mind, man!"

Originally Posted By USPC40:
Sounds like it's time for a second opinion.

View Quote

Sounds like it's time for a new HMO!!!
If I can prove it, this will be TWICE they made a major f*ck up. First time they sent my child home with a clean bill of health when she was born. Her heart is BACKWARDS and on the WRONG SIDE OF HER CHEST not to mention 4 other defects.
And the gun owners are the ones that are dangerous????

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Wow, opposite side of the chest and backwards... is everything going to be ok? Of the bat it doesn't sound like an issue.

Originally Posted By USPC40:
Sounds like it's time for a second opinion.

View Quote

Sounds like it's time for a new HMO!!!
If I can prove it, this will be TWICE they made a major f*ck up. First time they sent my child home with a clean bill of health when she was born. Her heart is BACKWARDS and on the WRONG SIDE OF HER CHEST not to mention 4 other defects.
And the gun owners are the ones that are dangerous????

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Wow, opposite side of the chest and backwards... is everything going to be ok? Of the bat it doesn't sound like an issue.

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She does have Pulmonary Stenosis and a Ventricular septal Defect (hole in the heart) right now they are balanced, they will have to intervene surgically before she is 6 years old.

Originally Posted By USPC40:
Sounds like it's time for a second opinion.

View Quote

Sounds like it's time for a new HMO!!!
If I can prove it, this will be TWICE they made a major f*ck up. First time they sent my child home with a clean bill of health when she was born. Her heart is BACKWARDS and on the WRONG SIDE OF HER CHEST not to mention 4 other defects.
And the gun owners are the ones that are dangerous????

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Wow, opposite side of the chest and backwards... is everything going to be ok? Of the bat it doesn't sound like an issue.

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She does have Pulmonary Stenosis and a Ventricular septal Defect (hole in the heart) right now they are balanced, they will have to intervene surgically before she is 6 years old.

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Sounds like your daughter will just have some interesting stories when she's older. I can't wait to have a precious child of my own.

Originally Posted By Imbroglio:
Alot of times if the blood sample isn't kept properly refrigerated or isn't properly centrifuged, the billirubin tests will be skewed and thus invalid. My advice to you is that you go back to the doctor and insist that he perform a Papanicolaou test. Don't take no for an answer.

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This is important; listen to the man.
Remember, he may not want to do this, as it may uncover their mistakes. Insist!
BTW, try practicing the word first; if you say it right he'll know that you know what you're talking about.

Number of physicians in the US = 700,000
Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year = 120,000
Accidental deaths per physician = 0.171
(source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Number of gun owners in the US = 80,000,000
Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) = 1500
Accidental deaths per gun owner = 0.0000188
(source: US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

Originally Posted By Imbroglio:
Alot of times if the blood sample isn't kept properly refrigerated or isn't properly centrifuged, the billirubin tests will be skewed and thus invalid. My advice to you is that you go back to the doctor and insist that he perform a Papanicolaou test. Don't take no for an answer.

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Bastard! I fell of my chair laughing. Yes, the Bilirubin test will show that [i]somebody[/i] was full of shit, and if the Doc doesn't wanna perform the Papanicolaou test on [i]him[/i] , I'd be raising hell as well :-)
Send pics!

Too much wanking off causes anemia and elevated LFTs! No, thats blindness. Not unusual for the lab to fuck up, they are human. When we get weird results we always repeat them to make sure.
One time my girlfriend went to a clinic for a pap smear, they told her she was pregnant. They mixed up her urine with the chick that was there before her. Talk about heartburn!

I see you're a graduate of the "jrzy school of interpersonal relations". <img src=/images/smilies/smiley_abused.gif border=0 align=middle> DScottYou should really stick to advice about staying inside the lines on your coloring book.Drjarh

Originally Posted By Imbroglio:
Alot of times if the blood sample isn't kept properly refrigerated or isn't properly centrifuged, the billirubin tests will be skewed and thus invalid. My advice to you is that you go back to the doctor and insist that he perform a Papanicolaou test. Don't take no for an answer.

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Bastard! I fell of my chair laughing. Yes, the Bilirubin test will show that [i]somebody[/i] was full of shit, and if the Doc doesn't wanna perform the Papanicolaou test on [i]him[/i] , I'd be raising hell as well :-)
Send pics!

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so what does the two unusual words in the above paragraphs mean?
bilirubin and papanicolaou

Originally Posted By Imbroglio:
My advice to you is that you go back to the doctor and insist that he perform a Papanicolaou test. Don't take no for an answer.

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[b]YOU BITCH!!!![/b]
I am telling my wife that someone was suggesting this Papaniccolaou test and I should take it...
If she passes out because she cannot breathe from her laughing... THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!!!

Always get a second opinion when it comes to your health.
I was given 6 months to live over 10 years ago, medicine isn't an exact science.
The only thing my poor body suffers from now is Gilbert's syndrome and that isn't anything but elevated bilirubin counts.

Originally Posted By RipMeyer:
Number of physicians in the US = 700,000
Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year = 120,000
Accidental deaths per physician = 0.171
(source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Number of gun owners in the US = 80,000,000
Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) = 1500
Accidental deaths per gun owner = 0.0000188
(source: US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

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Originally posted by tulsacmpshooter
Dr.'s kill more than gun owners, that's a statistical fact....

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[bold][rant][/bold]
As a physician practicing in the trenches, I truly resent the doctor bashing. If you believe the "statistics" you are quoting then by all means don't go to the doctor. If you don't believe them then STFU.
You want quality medical care? Do two things. First, eliminate the government's involvement in healthcare. The medicare stranglehold on the fastest increasing segment of the population has eliminated the free market. In the absence of competition, private insurers gravitate to the lowest common denominator in both services and reimbursement...i.e. the government product. Secondly, seek out quality healthcare. There are too many people out in the world, on this site as well, who are willing to accept the status quo as dictated by their insurer. You must see Dr. XXXX (no doubt a foreign medical graduate on the payroll) on date yyyy. BS! I am amazed by people who will spend $600 a month on a car, or plop down $1300 on a preban in a heartbeat, but when asked why they didn't seek other medical opinions, "Well, if I go out of plan, its a $500 deductible and then I get stuck with 50% of the bill. WTF is that! Want to know why your insurance is structured that way? See suggestion number one.
[bold][/rant][/bold]

Originally Posted By RipMeyer:
Number of physicians in the US = 700,000
Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year = 120,000
Accidental deaths per physician = 0.171
(source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Number of gun owners in the US = 80,000,000
Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) = 1500
Accidental deaths per gun owner = 0.0000188
(source: US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

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Originally posted by tulsacmpshooter
Dr.'s kill more than gun owners, that's a statistical fact....

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[bold][rant][/bold]
As a physician practicing in the trenches, I truly resent the doctor bashing. If you believe the "statistics" you are quoting then by all means don't go to the doctor. If you don't believe them then STFU.

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No kidding, it's very specious to say doctors kill more people than guns. That's like saying more people die in hospitals than anywhere else. It may be true, but was it the HOSPITAL or the medical care that killed them?
If you die under the care of a doctor, chances are you were in a pretty fucked-up condition where your life was already at great risk.

Originally Posted By TWIRE:
As a physician practicing in the trenches, I truly resent the doctor bashing. If you believe the "statistics" you are quoting then by all means don't go to the doctor. If you don't believe them then STFU.

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Twire, First of all I dont see any Dr bashing here. What was the stats quoted above were just that...STATS.
Do I agree with you about government keeping out of health care?? HELL YES I DO. look at social security, welfare and all the other programs they are involved in...ITS A JOKE. Another group that should STFU are the insurance companies. Who the hell are they to say what tests are needed and which ones are not?
I remember when you were sick, you call the Dr and he/she sees you the SAME day. NOW you call and they will see you in 5-10 days. Thanks a lot!
Dr's, LIKE law enforcement and teachers have their hands tied behind their backs. They answer to bureaucrats and political paperweights. If you untie thier hands and let them DO THEIR JOB, the world would be a better place.
Doctors are human though... THEY MAKE MISTAKES. Unfortunately, they are with human lives. They DO mix up blood tests, They DO misdiagnose, They DO cut off wrong arms and legs. THAT is the risk you take when becoming a physician.

Originally Posted By RipMeyer:
Number of physicians in the US = 700,000
Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year = 120,000
Accidental deaths per physician = 0.171
(source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Number of gun owners in the US = 80,000,000
Number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) = 1500
Accidental deaths per gun owner = 0.0000188
(source: US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

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Originally posted by tulsacmpshooter
Dr.'s kill more than gun owners, that's a statistical fact....

View Quote

[bold][rant][/bold]
As a physician practicing in the trenches, I truly resent the doctor bashing. If you believe the "statistics" you are quoting then by all means don't go to the doctor. If you don't believe them then STFU.

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No kidding, it's very specious to say doctors kill more people than guns. That's like saying more people die in hospitals than anywhere else. It may be true, but was it the HOSPITAL or the medical care that killed them?
If you die under the care of a doctor, chances are you were in a pretty fucked-up condition where your life was already at great risk.

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Actually these stats have been proven as a myth, they are not true. It would be great fuel but not true

Originally Posted By DrFrige:
Twire, First of all I dont see any Dr bashing here. What was the stats quoted above were just that...STATS.

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Posting inflammatory and misleading stats are a calculated attempt to bash the medical profession IMO. I did not feel that your original post was in any way bashing the doctor involved.

Do I agree with you about government keeping out of health care?? HELL YES I DO. look at social security, welfare and all the other programs they are involved in...ITS A JOKE. Another group that should STFU are the insurance companies. Who the hell are they to say what tests are needed and which ones are not?

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Agree completely.

I remember when you were sick, you call the Dr and he/she sees you the SAME day. NOW you call and they will see you in 5-10 days. Thanks a lot!

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This is dysfunction due to lack of a free market. If I had my druthers, I'd charge more per visit and see less people, spend more time, be more complete. Unfortunately, those options are not available. When the reimbursement is so low per visit, you have to see a LOT more patients just to cover the overhead. That's why you can't get an appointment for 10 days.
Actually that rarely occurs in my practice. If there aren't any appointments available, you get squeazed in anyway.

Dr's, LIKE law enforcement and teachers have their hands tied behind their backs. They answer to bureaucrats and political paperweights. If you untie thier hands and let them DO THEIR JOB, the world would be a better place.

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Amen.

Doctors are human though... THEY MAKE MISTAKES. Unfortunately, they are with human lives. They DO mix up blood tests, They DO misdiagnose, They DO cut off wrong arms and legs. THAT is the risk you take when becoming a physician.

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Doctors make mistakes. It does happen. I would venture to say that many more medical "mistakes" are made by the patients themselves.
"Doctor, my stool is black." Did you take pepto bismol? Your heme test is negative. "No. I didn't. I want a colonoscopy." Then later in the visit. "I noticed it after I took some pepto when I had diarrhea last week."
As the patient lay in the ED filling up her pericardium with blood after suffering a heart attack and getting a nice hole in her ventricle, I talk to the family. "Her chest has been hurting for two days, but she didn't want to come in. We made her come."
"I forgot to tell you that the last time I took that I had an anaphylactic reaction."
I could go on.
Hint: a lot of "mistakes" are completely subjective. Its called "the art of medicine" because the human element makes the whole process wildly inexact.

A couple comments pop to mind.
First, your doctor appears to be upfront and honest, keep him.
I didn't really get your post for if you are enemic the numbers will be down not up and your doctor again is right for if you red blood cell count is down it takes time for it to go back up.
Years back cars used oil and it was common to show the driver the oil stick if the oil was low but yet when it comes to your body most people don't want to know. I found it best to not rely on records on this type of thing and ask for the results. The doctors don't mind at all.
You should know a minimum of what your HCT normal (%red blood cells), hemoglobin (Iron level which is different for men and women), and most important your white blood cell count is (in thousands). Normal for humans is one thing normal for you may be another. I have chrouns so my WBC, white count, runs a normal 12,000. Given to a new doctor with no knowledge of my condition, thinking I had an infection he would be off looking for antibiotics.
Having worked as a lab tech in a former life and taking your doctors statement that there wasn't enought time at face value and the same happened to the two of you, I suspect that the machine, CBC analyiser most likely a Coulter, was out of calibration the day of the first test or the blood test tubes your samples were in was contaiminated with water or too much anticoagulant diluting the sample. The liver tests are a different tube and different machine, usually a coagualted tube and SMA machine. It would be impossible to tell which of these was the cause and also impossible to lay blame for it could be a lab technician, the tube maufacturer, machine technician, or the machine manufacturer.
If concerned, I would have another CBC done. It's an inexpensive test. This time note the values and everytime after. Keeping track of three numbers is not a big deal when it has everything to do with your health and treatment.
I did read the thread, I just got up so I didn't feel like following the humour.
BTW, my doctor is great and wears jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. His key to success, I've noticed is followup and holding to schedules. Miss a test and he sends me a registered letter. My kind of guy!

"God does not favor the largest regiment but the best shot." paraphrase of Voltaire

[bold][rant][/bold]
As a physician practicing in the trenches, I truly resent the doctor bashing. If you believe the "statistics" you are quoting then by all means don't go to the doctor. If you don't believe them then STFU.
You want quality medical care? Do two things. First, eliminate the government's involvement in healthcare. The medicare stranglehold on the fastest increasing segment of the population has eliminated the free market. In the absence of competition, private insurers gravitate to the lowest common denominator in both services and reimbursement...i.e. the government product. Secondly, seek out quality healthcare. There are too many people out in the world, on this site as well, who are willing to accept the status quo as dictated by their insurer. You must see Dr. XXXX (no doubt a foreign medical graduate on the payroll) on date yyyy. BS! I am amazed by people who will spend $600 a month on a car, or plop down $1300 on a preban in a heartbeat, but when asked why they didn't seek other medical opinions, "Well, if I go out of plan, its a $500 deductible and then I get stuck with 50% of the bill. WTF is that! Want to know why your insurance is structured that way? See suggestion number one.
[bold][/rant][/bold]

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It might be because we're afraid that 50% plus $500 can buy them a new car or house...

Liver enzyme elevation can mean more than just liver troubles, gallbladder, pancreatic, duct stones among other things can also commonly cause an increase in liver enzymes.
In regards to anemia, a person's state of hydration can cause the figures to go up or down to a degree. And women who are pregnant, get a dilutional anemia from a 40% increase in intervascular volume, thus it is common for pregnant women to have a hemoglobin of 10 and a hematocrit in the lower 30s or upper 20s.